Clothes-washing and squeeze-dry machine



Jan. 26, 1954 G, P. cAsTNER 2,667,054

CLOTHES-WASHING AND sQuEEzE-DRY MACHINE Filed Feb. 1e, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 FIG. l 35 nov. Ac. v At'fys.

Jan.y26, 1954 G. P. cAsTNER 2,667,054

CLOTHES-WASHING AND SQUEEZE-DRY MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `i .1 O /4l 4 4 62 P5 i G 5321 55 lElillIHli A/ '52 Z I9 ,i1/45 @Je 5| .i l@

INVENTOR.

BY George P. Costner Patented Jan. 26, 1954 CLOTHES-WASHING AND SQUEEZE-DRY INE George P. Castner, Webster City, Iowa, assignor of forty-nine per cent to Douglas Skokie, Ill., and fifty-one per cent 0. Baird, to Speed- Flex, Inc., a corporation of Iowa Application February 18, 1950, Serial No. 144,890

(Cl. (S8-21) 1 1 claims.

The' present invention relates to clothes washing machines of the general character of that disclosed in the copending application of George P. Castner, Serial No. 133,900, filed December i9, 1949, now Patent No. 2,612,769, granted October 7, 1952.

The clothes washing machine disclosed in the Castner application mentioned comprises a tub including upstanding opposed end walls and connecting side wall, and an upstanding flexible diaphragm arranged in the tub and sealed about the perimeter thereof to an intermediate portion of the side wall. The diaphragm cooperates with one end of the side Wall and with one of the end walls to dene a compartment therebetween and cooperates with the other end of the side Wall and with the other of the end walls to define a chamber therebetween. The compart ment is adapted to receive clothes and wash liquid, and an opening is provided in the upper portion of the oney end of the side wall rendering the compartment accessible from the exterior, a door being mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to the opening.

An upstanding substantially disk-like dasher is disposed in the compartment adjacent to the one end wall and mounted thereon for operation. Specifically, the dasher is rotated unidirectionally by a motor drive arrangement in order to produce a. washing action upon the clothes suspended in the wash liquid contained in the compartment.

The diaphragm comprises a normal pcsiticn disposed adjacent to the other end of the side wall and to the other end Wall, and an operated position disposed adjacent to the one end of the side wall and to the one end wall, and may be moved from its normal position into its operated position by the admission of compressed air into the chamber. Thus the diaphragm divides the tub and constitutes a common wall between the compartment and the chamber, the front of the diaphragm facing the compartment and the rear of the diaphragm facing the chamber. The com" partment is provided with a selectively controllable drain valve that is operated to an open position to effect the draining of the wash liquid from the compartment, a motor driven drain pump being provided to insure the complete drainage of the wash liquid from the compartment and the discharge of the wash liquid te' the exterior 'when the drain valve occupies its open position. After the Wash liquid is thus. drained from the compartment, the diaphragm is moved from its normal position into its opera ated position effecting a squeezing action upon the clothes contained in the compartment between the diaphragm and the one end wall and the dasher so as to express from the clothes the wash liquid absorbed thereby, whereby the major portion of the wash liquid absorbed by the clothes may be readily expressed therefrom.

For the purpose of moving the diaphragm from its normal position into its operated position, compressed air from a storage tank is selectively admitted into the chamber, a motor driven compressor being provided to maintain a quantitv of compressed air under gauge pressure in the storage tank. In order to return the diaphragm from its operated position back into its normal y position, the storage tank is disconnected from the chamber and the chamber is placed into cornmunication with the atmosphere. Finally, an electric control arrangement is incorporated in the machine for the purpose of effecting selective operation of the various elements thereof in an automatic timed cycle.

While the clothes Washing machine disclosed inr the Castner application mentioned is entirely satisfactory in operation, the utilization of compressed air from the storage tank in the chamber for the purpose of moving the diaphragm from its normal position into its operated f position necessitates a storage tank of fairly large capacity; thus, not only is such a storage tank somewhat more expensive than is desirable, but it occupies a corresponding large space in the casing of the machine than is most economical.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a clothes washing machine voi" the general character described, wherein the diaphragm is moved from its normal position into its operated position by the admission into the chamber of air under atmospheric pressure and by the corresponding evacuation of the compartment, and wherein the diaphragm in its operated position is then subjected to an increased pressure by the admission into the chamber of air under gauge pressure, whereby the amount of compressed air from the storage tank required in the chamber in the operation of the machine is minimized so that a storage tank of only fairly small capacity is required in the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clothes washing machine of the general character described that includes a compact and economical arrangement of the operating elements thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a clothes washing machine, an improved arrangement for expressing absorbed liquid from clothes or other fabrics employing a flexible diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm first squeezes the clothes with a pressure substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure for a time interval suilcient to express the bulk of the absorbed liquid from the clothes and then squeezes the clothes with an absolute pressure substantially equal to a given gauge pressure plus the atmospheric pressure for a time interval sufficient to express additional of the absorbed liquid from the clothes so that the remaining absorbed liquid in the clothes has a weight not in excess of the weight of the clothes.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a clothes washing machine of the flexible diaphragm clothes-squeezing type, a selectively controllable arrangement for readily establishing a variable final pressure to which the clothes are subjected by the exible diaphragm in its squeezing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a clothes washing machine of the flexible-diaphragm clothes-squeezing type, an improved arrangement for selectively subjecting the clothes to a final squeezing pressure that is substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure or that is substantially equal to a given gauge pressure plus the atmospheric pressure.

A further object of the invention is provided in a clothes washing machine of the iiexible-diaphragm clothes-squeezing type, an improved arrangement for selectively evacuating the compartment containing the clothes and the wash liquid in order to cause the exible diaphragm to be collapsed by the atmospheric, pressure into squeezing relation with the clothes for the purpose of expressing wash liquid from the clothes.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a clothes washing machine of the flexible-diaphragm clothes-squeezing type, an improved arrangement for Ventilating the fluid-tight compartment containing the clothes and the wash liquid during the normal washing operation of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a clothes washing machine of the flexiblediaphragm clothes-squeezing type, an improved arrangement for lling the huid-tight compartment containing the clothes with wash liquid and for establishing a predetermined normal level of the wash liquid in the compartment.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a clothing washing machine of the flexiblediaphragm clothes-squeezing type, an improved construction and arrangement of the tub and the flexible diaphragm to deiine the fluid-tight compartment containing the clothes and the wash liquid and to define the air-tight chamber adapted to receive air for the purpose of controlling the position of the diaphragm.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the clothes washing machine and to the elements of the electric circuit control network thereof, whereby the aboveoutlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the mechanical elements of a clothes washing machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical elements of a clothes washing machine embodying the present invention, together with a time chart illustrating the sequence of the different operations of the machine in an automatic timed cycle; and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively longitudinal and transverse sectional views taken through the tub of the machine shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 also being taken in the direction of the arrows along the offset line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is diagrammatically illustrated a clothes washing machine IU of the general character of that disclosed in the previously mentioned Castncr application and embodying the features of the present invention. The machine i0 comprises, as shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, an upstanding tub I I including cooperating front and rear cupshaped sections I2 and I3 secured together in facing liquid-tight relation by cooperating inner and outer rings or bands I4 and I5 secured together by a series of rivets, or the like, I6. The front section I2 comprises an upstanding front wall I'I and a connecting rearwardly directed tubular side wall I8; while the rear section I3 comprises an upstanding rear wall I9 and a connected forwardly directed tubular side wall 20. The tubular side wall I8 comprises a laterally extending substantially flat forwardly and downwardly sloping top wall 2|, two downwardly directed side walls 22 and 23 and an arcuate bottom wall 24; while the tubular side wall 20 comprises a laterally extending substantially flat horizontal top wall 25, two downwardly directed side walls and an arcuate bottom wall 26. Accordingly, the edges or ends of the walls of the front section I2 and the edges or ends of the walls of the rear section I3 are secured together in liquid-tight relation by the rings I4 and I5.

A substantially laterally extending rectangular opening 21 is formed substantially centrally in the top wall 2i of the front section I2 in order to f render the interior of the tub II accessible from the exterior, the opening 21 being surrounded by a lower inwardly directed marginal throat 28 also, the opening 2 is provided with a door 29 movable between open and closed positions with respect thereto. Specifically, the door 29 in its closed position is arranged entirely within the opening 2l and the throat 28; and the door 29 comprises an outer wall 30, an intermediate wall 3l, and an inner wall 32. The outer wall 30 is provided with an inwardly directed marginal flange 33 to which the intermediate wall 3I is secured; and the inner wall 32 is provided with an outwardly directed marginal flange 34 that is secured to the intermediate wall 3l. The door 29 is mounted in the opening 2l and in throat 28 by an arrangement including a pair of laterally spaced-apart hinges 35, the leaves of which are respectively secured to the top wall 2l within the opening 2l and to the marginal flange 33. A first flexible rubber sealing gasket 36 is secured to the intermediate wall 3! about the marginal flange 3K3, and. a second flexible rubber sealing gasket 3'! is secured about the marginal flange 3Q adjacent to the inner wall 32. The sealing gaskets 36 and 37 respectively cooperate with angularly disposed adjacent portions of the I throat 28 in order hermetically to seal the door 29 to the top wall 2i in its closed position. For the purpose of restraining the door 29 inv its F' l closed position latch mechanism is carried .thereby thatincludes a rotatable handle 38 accessible from the exterior and an associated latch bar 39, the latch bar 39 cooperating with a laterally extending keeper 49 arranged within the opening 21 and secured to the top wall 2|. In view of the foregoing description, it will be understood that the interior of the tub II may be rendered fluid-tight when the door 29 is moved into its closed position with respect to the opening 2land latched in place bythe cooperation between the latch bar 39 and its keeper 4i?. Of course, the door 29 may be readily moved into its open position with respect to the opening 27 upon the hinges after the handle 38 has been rotated to withdraw the latch bar l39 from its keeper 4G.

Arranged within the tub II is an upstanding flexible substantially cup-shaped diaphragm 4I formed of rubber, or the like, and including what may be termed an end wall 42 and a flange wall 43, the marginal edge or perimeter of the flange wall 43 being clamped between rings It and I5, whereby the perimeter of the ange wall 43 is sealed at the junction between the sections I2 and I3. The diaphragm 4I has a normal concave position in which it conforms substantially to the interior surface of the rear section I3 of the tub il and in its concave position the diaphragm 4I cooperates with the front section I2 to dene a compartment 44, and cooperates with the rear section I3 to denne a chamber 45, the compartment 4d and the chamber 45 being separated from each other by the diaphragm I constituting a common wall therebetween and dividing the tub II Specifically, the compartment 44 is accessible from the exterior through the opening 2l when the door 29 occupies its open position and is adapted to receive cleansing or washing liquid and clothes to be washed.

Also, arranged within the compartment 44 adjacent to and rearwardly of the front wall Il is an iipstanding perforated wall or plate 45, the configuration of the plate 'i3 conforming substantially to that of the front wall Il. The plate 45 may be formed of one-piece die-cast construction or pressed directly from a fairly heavy gauge of stainless steel, or the like, the plate 4B being perforated by the provision of a number of holes il therein. Further, the position of the plate it spaced rearwardly with respect to the front wall I 7 is maintained by a series of spacedapart stanchions 4B disposed therebetween, the stanchions 48 being securely fastened to the front wall i? to the plate d6. Accordingly, the upstanding front wall I l and the upstanding plate d6 define an opstanding space 49 therebetween, with which space 49 'there 'communicates a downwardly extending drain conduit 50' providedl in the bottom wall I8.

A substantially annular boss 5i is formed in the central portion of the plate 45 in order to provide a substantially circular recess 52 surrounded thereby, the centers of the boss 5I and of the recess 52 being substantially coincident with each other and with the arcs of the bottom walls 24 and 25 of the respective sections I2 and I3 of the tub II. A disk-like dasher 53 is arranged within the recess 52 and mounted upon the rear end of an operating shaft 54 that extends through aligned openings respectively formed in the front wall Il and in the plate 45. More particularly, the operating shaft 54 is sunported and .iournaled for rotation substantially along the longitudinal axis of the .tub I I in bearing structure including complementary sections $5 and 53 respectively disposed interiorlyl and exand the dasher 53 may be rotated unidirecl tionally.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the dasher 53 is rotated unidirectionally in the clockwise direction, as

viewed from the front face thereof, and carries on its front face three relatively shallow outstanding vanes 58, 59 and G, the vane 58 being disposed on one side of the center of rotation of the dasher 53 and the vanes 5S and 50 being disposed on the other side ofthe center of rotation of the dasher 53 and in radially spacedapart relation with respect to each other. The vanes 58, 59 and 50 are removed from the center of rotation of the dasher 53 and extend in a crosswise to radial direction with respect to the center of rotation thereof, each of the vanes 58, 53 and 60 being tapered and provided with leading and trailing ends with respect to the direction of rotation of the dasher 53 so that the leading end of each vane is closer than the trailing end thereof to the front face of the dasher 53. Also, a shallow recess 6I is provided in the front face of the dasher 53 between the vanes 59 and 66, this recess 6I assisting in the release of the clothes from the front face of the dasher 53, as explained more fully hereinafter. lThe central portion of the dasher 53 is provided with a substantially semi-spherical or bulbous boss E2 having a hole therein that receives the extreme rear end of the operating shaft 5t, as previously noted. Also, a substantially annular resilient element 63 formed of rubber, or the like, is suitably secured upon the peripheral edge of the dasher 53 in order to prevent working of the clothes contained in the compartment 44 between the dasher 53 and the plate 4S so as to eliminate the breakage of buttons, or the like, carried upon the clothes.

Arranged within the upstanding space 49 between the front wall i1 and the plate 36. are an inlet conduit 64, an overflow conduit 55, and a vent conduit 65. The inlet conduit 513 may be arranged on one side of the operating shaft S4, and the overflow conduit 65 and the vent conduit B6 may be arranged on the other side of the operating shaft 5d. The upper open end of the overflow conduit 55 establishes the normal liquid level in the compartment 4d as indicated by the broken line 6l, which level is disposed somewhat above the upper portion of the dasher 53. The upper end of the inlet conduit sa terminates in a substantially U-shaped outwardly and downwardly curved xture E8 disposed above the liquid level 51 and communicating with the space 129; while the upper end of the vent conduit E6 is disposed well above the liquid level 32' and communicates with the space 49. rlhe lower ends of the conduits 64, 65 and 33 project through openings provided in the arcuate bottom wall 24 of the section I2 to the exterior and are sealed in place by suitable fluid-tight collars, respec tively indicated at 39, l and 1I. As best shown in Fig. 3, a depression l2 is formed in the lowermost'portion of the arcuate bottom wall ,2t of `that is provided with a bells thereof, as well as a controlled type included 7 the section I3 and receives an air conduit 13 that communicates with the chamber L15, the air conduit 13 being sealed in place by suitable air-tight collars, indicated at 14.

The sections |2 and I3 of the tub Il, the walls 30, 3| and 32 of the door 29, the bands I4 and I5, as well as the conduits 50, 64, 65, S6 and 13 are formed of a corrosion-resistant material, such as stainless steel. Also it is advantageous that the rivets I6, the stanchions 48, as well as the sections 55 and 56 of the bearing structure, be formed of a suitable corrosion-resistant material. Further, the dasher 53 may advantageously be formed of one-piece die-cast aluminum construction.

Again referring to Fig. l, the machine I comprises a housing or casing, not shown, the tub II being arranged in the upper portion of this casing, and a machinery compartment being defined in the lower portion of this casingbelow the tub I|. Arranged within this machinery compartment, not shown, are certain operating elements including an electric drive motor E drive shaft 1G projecting from the opposite end fluid pump 11. The right-hand end of the drive shaft 16 terminates in electromagnetic clutch mechanism 18; and the left-hand end of the drive shaft 16 terminates in electromagnetic clutch mechanism 19. The iiuid pump 11 constitutes a combination liquid and air pump and is provided with a casing including an inlet oonnection 80 and an outlet connection 8i, well as a rotor, not shown, housed within the casing and rigidly secured of the drive shaft 16 disposed between the drive motor and the clutch mechanism le. Also, suitably journaled in the machinery compartment mentioned are two stub shafts S2 and 8S that are respectively terminated in mechanism I8 and 19. Specifically, the left-hand end of the stub shaft 82 terminates in the clutch mechanism 18 and the right-hand end thereof carries a pulley 8 of the V-belt type rigidly secured thereto. The pulley 24 is arranged in vertical alignment with the pulley 51, and an operative drive connection is disposed therebetween that includes an associated V-belt 25. Specifically, the right-hand end of the stubv shaft 83 terminates in the clutch mechanism 15, and the left-hand end thereof is operatively connected to a fluid drive or coupling unit 86. Also, a stub shaft 81 is suitably journaled in the machinery compartment noted, the right-hand end of the stub shaft 81 being connected to the fluid drive or coupling unit 8S, and the left-hand end thereof being connected to an air compressor 88, Specifically, the left hand end of the stub shaft 83 and the right-hand end of the stub shaft 81 may be respectively connected to the bladed element and to the casing element of the fiuid drive or coupling unit 86, the casing of the iiuid drive or coupling unit 86 containing a suitable quantity of hydraulic medium such for example as oil. rI'he air compressor 88 comprises a casing including an inlet connection 89 and an outlet connection 90, as well as a rotor, not shown, rigidly secured to the left-hand end of the stub shaft 81.

The inlet connection 8U of the iiuid pump 11 ls connected to a conduit 9| that is connected directly to the overflow conduit andyals'o, the conduit 9| is connected to the drain conduit 13 via a drain valve 92 of the electromagnetically in the drain conduit 5G,

to the intermediate section :1

the clutch the drain valve 92 being normally biased into its closed position. The outlet connection 8| of the fluid pump 11 is connected directly via a conduit 93 to the exterior, and thence to drain plumbing, such, for example, as a laundry tray disposed in the laundry room in which the machine I is located. The inlet connection 89 of the air compressor 88 communicates with the atmosphere, a lter device 94 being associated with the inlet connection 89 in order to prevent the intake of foreign material into the casing thereof. The outlet connection of the air compressor 88 is connected via an associated check valve 95 to a storage tank 96 that is adapted to retain and store air under gauge pressure.

The air conduit 13 is connected to a fixture 91, that is, in turn, connected by a conduit 98 to the storage tank 96, an electromagnetically controlled admission valve 99 being included in the conduit 98, the admission valve S9 being normally biased into its closed position. Also, the fixture 91 is connected to .an exhaust conduit 20e communieating with the atmosphere, the exhaust conduit |09 including an electromagnetically controlled exhaust valve |GI, the exhaust valve IU! being normally biased into its open position. Further, the fixture 91 is connected to a relief conduit IGZ communicating with the atmosphere, the relief conduit |62 including an adjustable relief or safety valve |03. It will be understood that the relief valve |83 is adjusted in order to permit the establishment of a predetermined gauge pres sure within the air conduit 13, and consequently within the chamber 45, whereby the relief valve |93 is selectively operated between its open and closed positions in response to pressure of the air in the air conduit 13 respectively above and below the predetermined gauge pressure. Further, a pressure responsive switch, generally indicated at |04, communicates with the storage tank 96, the switch Ill being adjustable and including contact structure selectively operative between closed and open positions in response to a given gauge pressure in the storage tank 9B. Preferably,vthe pressure responsive switch |94 is of the snap-acting type, and is employed for a purpose more fully explained hereinafter.

The vent conduit B5 communicates with the atmosphere and includes an electromagnetically controlled vent valve |65, the vent valve |05 being normally biased into its open position. The inlet condu1t 64 is operatively connected to a hot water supply conduit |06 and to a cold water supply conduit |91 by an arrangement including an electromagnetically controlled inlet valve mechanism |88. The hot water supply conduit |06 and the `cold water supply conduit |61 are normally connected by two sections of fiexible rubber hose, not shown, to the respective hot and cold water plumbing that is provided in the laundry room in which the machine |Il is located. The inlet valve mechanism |08 comprises a casing |89 including a hot water chamber IIB, a cold water chamber I I I, and a mixing chamber I I2, the hot water chamber IID being connectable bv first normally closed Valve structure, not shown, to the mixing chamber II2, and the cold water chamber being connectable by second normally closed valve structure, not shown, to the mixing chamber II2. The hot water chamber IIS and the cold water chamber III respectively communicate directly with the hot water supply conduit |06 and with the cold water supplv coifduit mi, and. themixing chamber H2 communi- Cates directly with the mien' conduit e4. The

9 first mentioned valve mechanism provided with an operating arrangement including a solenoid lit and the second mentioned valve mechanism is provided with an operating arrangement including a solenoid I I4.

In View of the foregoing description of the water supply and drain system that is incorporated in the machine ifi, it will be understood that when the solenoid II 3 is energized alone. hot water is supplied from the hot water supply conduit iat through the casing |539 of the inlet valve mechanism ist into the inlet conduit Se and is thus delivered into the upstanding space 49, and consequently into the compartment if; in the tub il; and, likewise, when the solenoid IIs is energized alone, cold water is supplied from the cold water supply conduit it? through the casing ich. of the inlet valve mechanism |68 into the inlet conduit Sil and is thus delivered into the upstanding space the compartment de in the tub |I. When vboth of these solenoids I l?, and I lll are energized warm water is supplied via the inlet conduit 613 into the compartment it in the tub |I as a result of the mixing of the hot water and the cold water in the casing los of the inlet valve mechanism |98. The valve structures that are respectively controlled by the solenoids H3 and H, being normally biased into their closed positions, are, accordingly, returned to their closed positions when the respective solenoids H3 and Illl are ole-energized. The water that is supplied into the compartment ce accumulates therein until the head thereof rises to the normal level indicated by the broken line 67, water supplied into the compartment 44 overflows therefrom into the overii-owing conduit and is thus delivered via the conduit .tI into the casing of the fluid pump il; whereby the water overiiowing from the compartment lli is pumped by the operating fluid pump il through the conduit 93 to the exterior. Thus, it will be understood that the over-now conduit 65 establishes the normal level of the water in the compartment d4. Also,

it will be understood that the air that is originally s in the compartment lli is displaced by the water entering the compartment it from the inlet conduit 613; which displaced air may enter either the overflow conduit S5 or the vent conduit E5. When filling of the compartment ld in the tub l l of the machine Iii is initiated, operation of the drive motor "55 is initiated; whereby the fluid pump Il is operated by the drive motor l5 during the filling of the compartment ed with water.

The displaced air that enters the overow conduit E5 is pumped by the fluid pump Tl to the exterior via the conduit 93 since the fluid pump 77 is capable of pumping either air or water, or both air water, as previously noted. The

air that enters the vent conduit Et is vented 4 directly to the atmosphere by virtue of the circumstance that the vent valve E5 normally occupies its open position.

As previously noted, the drain valve 2 normaily occupies its closed position, but when the solenoid 92 thereof is energized the drain valve 92 is operated into its open position, whereby the water contained in the compartment i4 is drained therefrom via the drain conduit i3 communicating with the lower portion of the opstanding space 9. The water drained through the drain conduit E?) is conducted via the conduit 9! into the Casing of the fluid pump 'il and is thencepumped by the operating fluid pump r|'I to the exterior `via the conduit Q3. When the drain valve 92 ocand consequently into f whereupon any further lrotation of the pulley 8f3.

4vanes 59 and Sii. Subsequently,

cupies its open position the water standing in the compartment da is preferentially pumped by the fluid pump l? to the exterior with respect to the air in the compartment ell due to the hydroetatichead of the Water anding in the compartment et. As thewatf thus drained from the compartment AG, the volume thereof may be replaced by air that is drawn into the con',- partment cli through the vent conduit o6. Ultimately, when all of the water contained in the compartment lili has been drained therefrom the continued operation of the fiuid pump li is eec tive to draw air from the compartment its both through the overow conduit o5 and through the drain conduit i3, when the drain valve t2 occupies its open position. However, the air thus pumped trom the compartment it yloy the uid pump 'Il may be replaced by air that is drawn `into the compartment dei through the vent conduit 68. Subsequently, when the solenoid t2 of the drain valve Q2 is cie-energized, the drain valve 92 is returned into its normal closed position.

Since the compartment da formed in the tub l I is fluid-tight, when the door 2t occupies its closed position, it will be understood that a partial vacuum may be drawn in the compartment it by operation of the fluid pump ''i when the vent valve idd is operated to its closed position; which arrangement is employed for the purpose oi' collapsing or moving the diaphragm GI from its normal position into its operated position, as explained more fully hereinafter.

Considering` now the operation of the dasher iii-3, it is noted that the clutch mechanism le no1- maliy occupies its declutched position, whereby operation of the drive motor "i5 does not normally eifect operation of the dasher 53. However, when the solenoid I8 of the clutch mechanism it? is energized, the clutch mechanism 'I8 is operated to its clutched position so that the rotating drive shaft l of the drive motor l5 eifects rotation of the stub shaft 82 andthe consequent The rotating pulley 8,3 effects rotation of the pulley 5i and the yconsequent rotation of the operating' shaft 5d and the dasher 53. More particularly, the dasher 53 is rotated in the clockwise direction, as viewed from the front face thereof, as previously noted, whereby a washing action is produced by the dasher 53 upon the clothes suspended in the washing liquid contained in the compartment fili. Specically, the dasher 53 moves and rearranges the clothes contained in the compartment 44 in a substantially circular upstanding path in an active area adjacent to the plate d5. The dasher d3 lightly grasps the clothes as it is rotated unidirectionally in the clockwise direction, as Viewed in Fig. 4, by an angular shearing Contact therewith and then quickly discharges the clothes in order that they are movedand rearranged as previously noted. This angular shearing lcontact with w ich the clothes are lightly grasped is effected largely by the disposition of the shallow tapered vanes 52, 59 and di] providedupon the front face of the dasher 53; .while this quick .dischargeof the clothes from the front face of the dasher 53 is materiallyfaciliatated by the shallow recess disposed in the iront face thereof and positioned between the n Y when the solenoid 'I8' of the clutch mechanism i3 is de-encrgized the clutch mechanism i2 is returned to `its normal declutched position so that continued rotation ofthe drive shaft it of the drive motor l5 does not effect rotation of the stub lshaft 82 so that further operation of the dasher 53 is arrested.

Considering now the operation of the air compressor 88 and the associated fluid coupling or drive mechanism 86, it is noted that the clutch mechanism 19 normally occupies its declutched position, whereby operation of the drive motor` 15 does not normally effect operation of the air compressor 88. However, when the solenoid 19 of the clutch mechanism 19 is energized, the clutch mechanism 19 is operated to its clutched position so that the rotating drive shaft 16 of the drive motor 15 effects rotation of the stub shaft 83, and the rotating stub shaft 83 effects rotation of the stub shaft 81 through the uid drive or coupling mechanism 86. The rotating stub shaft 81 effects rotation of the rotor of the air compressor 88, whereby air is drawn through the inlet connection 89 and the associated filter device 94 into the casing of the air compressor 88 and compressedtherein and discharged via the outlet connection 96 and thence through the check valve 95 into the stor age tank 96. The arrangement of the fluid drive or coupling mechanism 86 between the stub shafts 83 and 81 effects automatic unloading therebetween as the pressure of the air in the storage tank 96 is increased toward a given gauge pressure, since there is a normal slippage between the relatively rotatable elements of the fluid drive or coupling mechanism 86. This arrangement prevents overloading of the air compressor 88 and the consequent building up of an abnormal and undesirable high pressure of the compressed air in the storage tank 96. Subsequently, when the solenoid 19 of the clutch mechanism 19 is cle-energized the clutch mechanism 19 is returned to its normal declutched position so that the continued rotation of the drive shaft 16 of the drive motor 15 does not effect rotation of the stub shaft 83 so that further operation of the air compressor 88 is arrested.

Considering now the movement of the diaphragm 4| between its normal and operated positions, it will be understood that the admission valve 99 is normally closed and that the exhaust valve is normally open, whereby the chamber 45 normally communicates with the atmosphere through the air conduit 13, the fixture 91 and the conduit |00. Accordingly, atmospheric pressure is normally present in the chamber 45. Likewise, atmospheric pressure is normally present in the compartment 44 since the vent valve |95 normally occupies its open position. Thus the wash liquid contained in the compartment 44 exerts a hydrostatic pressure upon the diaphragm 4| retaining the diaphragm in its normal position. Moreover, at this time, the operation of the fluid pump 11 is eiective to draw fresh air through the vent conduit 66 into the compartment 44 in order to insure ventilation of the compartment 44. Now when the vent valve |05 is operated to its closed position and the drain valve 92 is operated into its open position, not only is the wash liquid drained from the compartment 44, but also the air in the compartment 44 is withdrawn therefrom, all as a result of the operation of the fluid pump 11. Thus as the head of the wash liquid in the compartment 44 begins to fall, a partial vacuum is drawn in the compartment 44, whereby the atmospheric pressure present in the chamber 45 begins to eect the collapse of the upper portion of the diaphragm 4| toward the plate 46. Ultimately, after all of the wash liquid contained in the chamber 44 has been drained therefrom and a substantial portion of the air contained in the chamber 44 has been evacuated therefrom, differential pressure on the opposite sides of the diaphragm 4| is considerable so that the diaphragm 4| is collapsed by the atmospheric pressure in the chamber 45 toward the plate 46. Specifically, the diaphragm 4| is moved from its normal position into its operated position, whereby the diaphragm 4| exerts a squeezing action upon the clothes contained in the compartment 44, the squeezing action taking place between the diaphragm 4| and plate 46 and the dasher 53. As evacuation of the compartment 44 continues the total pressure exerted by the diaphragm 4| upon the clothes contained in the compartment 44 approaches the atmospheric pressure in the chamber 45, whereby the squeezing action of the diaphragm 4| upon the clothes is effective to express therefrom the bulk of the absorbed wash liquid. The wash liquid that is expressed from the clothes adjacent to the plate 46 passes through the openings 41 provided therein and is drained from the upstandng space 49 into the drain conduit 13. The wash liquid thus drained into the drain conduit 13 passes through the drain valve 92 in its open position and is pumped along with the air in the compartment 44 by the iluid pump 11 to the exterior.

After the diaphragm 4| has been moved from its normal position into its operated position in the manner explained above, an increased squeezing pressure may be obtained by admitting compressed air into the chamber 45. Specifically, the solenoid |0I of the exhaust valve |0| is energized in order to operate the exhaust valve |9| into its closed position; and the solenoid 99' of the admission valve 99 is energized in order to operate the admission valve 99 into its open position. Compressed air from the storage tank 96 is thus directed into the connection 91 and thence via the air conduit 13 into the chamber 45, whereby a predetermined gauge pressure appears in the chamber 45 pressing the diaphragm 4| in its operated position against the clothes in the compartment 44 with the increased pressure in order to express from the clothes additional of the absorbed wash liquid. The predetermined gauge pressure that appears in the compartment 45 may be approximately 1/2 atmosphere and results from the expansion of the compressed air in the storage tank 96 at the higher given gauge pressure into the chamber 45 in accordance with the gas law:

The compressed air in the storage tank 96 may be at the given gauge pressure of approximately two atmospheres; whereby the storage tank 96 may be of fairly small capacity. n any case when the admission valve 99 is operated into its open position with the exhaust valve in its closed position, the pressure is equalized between the storage tank 96 and the chamber 45 producing the predetermined gauge pressure previously noted in the chamber 45. Thereafter, the solenoid 99 of the admission valve 99 may be deenergized so that the admission valve 99 is returned to its closed position since the predetermined gauge pressure in the chamber 45 may be held as long as the exhaust valve |9| is retained in its closed position. At this time since a partial vacuum is present in the compartment 44 containing the clothes, the absolute pressure that is exerted upon the diaphragm 4| to effect the accepta squeezing action upon the clothes in the'oipartment 44 is substantially equal to the predetermined gauge pressure plus the atmospheric pressure whereby the diaphragm 4| may exert a pressure of 11/2 atmospheres upon the clothes in the compartment 44 at this time in accordance with the present example. f course,- this additional squeezing action that is exerted by the diaphragm 4| upon the clothes contained in the compartment 44 expresses additional of the absorbed wash liquid therefrom, which wash liquid is pumped to the exterior by the fluid pump il in the manner previously explained.

By way of example, load of dV pounds of clothes may initially contain at the beginning of a squeezing operation 12 pounds of water. I-lowever, after the diaphragm 4| khas been moved into its operated position and held in squeezing relation with the clothes for a reasonable time interval, theabsorbed water may be reduced to approximately 9 pounds. At this time when the diaphragm :il is pressed against the clothes with atmospheric pressure', it is virtually impossible in any reasonable length of time to reduce the amount of absorbed wash water in the clothes apprecably below approximately 9 pounds, which content of water in the clothes is somewhat high. However, when the pressure upon the diaphragm 4| in its operated position is increased in the manner explained above, the absorbed water may be readily reduced in a short interval of time to approximately 7 pounds. I As explained more' fully hereinafter, in the event the weight of water in excess of the weight ofthe clothes is not objectionable, the nal pressure squeeze at the absolute f" pressure that is substantially equal to the predetermined gauge pressure plus the atmospheric pressure may be omitted; however, it is normally desired to express from the clothes as much of the water as is possible within a reasonable interval. Of course, it will be apparent that by employing the nal squeeze operation of the diaphragm 4| the resulting weight of water absorbed by the clothes is considerably less than the weight of the clothes; which arrangement is very advantageous when the clothes are to be removed from the clothes washing machine lo and placed in a clothes drying machine, or the like.

After a nal squeezing operation has been carried out by the diaphragm 4|` upon the clothes in the compartment et', the solenoid |55 'of the vent valve |65 is dee-energized so that the vent valve is returned to its normal open position admitting air into' the compartment 44. Also, at this time the solenoid l0 l of the exhaust valve I'l is cie-energized effecting the return of the exhaust valve |01 into its open position so that the compressed air in the chamber may escape to the atmosphere. At this time, since atmospheric pressure appears both in the compartment 44 and in the chamber 45 the diaphragm il is subjected to no differential pressure and consequently is returned at least partially from its operated position toward its normal position. Also', since atmospheric pressure appears in the compartment '44 the door 23 may be readily moved into itsopen position with respect to the opening. 21 provided in the upper portion of the section |'2 after the handle 38 has been operated to' withdraw the latch bar 39 from its keeper d0. When the door 29 is then moved into its open position theV interior of the compartment Al is readilyV accessible through the opening 21 so that the clothes maybe removed from the compartment 44. It is noted that in the event the' diaphragm 4|' is not returned time 14 compie'teiy 1ste its norman p'csitcnft this time; this circumstance is of no consequence as the da: phrag-m 4| will be completely returnedinto its' normal position the next time wash liquid is introduced into the compartment 44 since the chamber 45 is normally vented to the atmosphere,` the exhaust valve 9| normally occupying its" open' position. l

Further as shown in Fig. 2, a program selector switch |26 and a push-button switch |2| are preferably carried by the' top wall of the casing?, not shown, of the machine IB so that they are readily accessible from 'the' exterior. The program selector switch |20 comprises an operating shaft |22 mounted for both rotational and limited longitudinal sliding movements. The outer end of the operating shaft |259y is provided with a control knob or dial |123 rigidly secured thereto and including a flared skirt carrying indicia co= operating with an index pointer, not shown. Also, the operating shaft |22 carries nine insulating control cams, Cl to C19, inclusive, rigidly secured thereto in longitudinally spaced-apart re'- lation, the nine control cams C! to C9, inclusive, being provided with individually associated control switches Sl to S9 inclusive. The control cams Ci to C9, inclusive, selectively operate the control switches Sl to S9, inclusive, in response to selective rotation of the operating shaftv |22 by the control dial |23. Also, the program selector switch |2 comprises a master switch MS thatgis operative between open and closed positions, the master switch MS being biased towards its closed position and being operated into its open position by an associated insulator |24A carried `by the operating shaft |22. Specifically, when the control dial |23 is depressed, it is moved inwardly so as to cause the insulator |24 to move the master switch MS into its open position. On the other hand, when the control dial |22 is lifted, it is moved outwardly so as to cause the insulator |24 to disengage the master switch MS, whereby the master switch MS is moved into its closedposition. o Y

Further, the program selector switch |26 comprises a timer motor |25 of the vsynchronous type and preferably a fTelechron motor operative upon 60 cycle-110 volts A. C. Between the timer motor |25 and the operating shaft |22, there is arranged speed reduction gearing |26 and a slipclutch i2?. rShe speed reduction gearing |26 effects rotation of the operating shaft |2| through the slipclutch 2'.' at a predetermined timed rate and in the clockwise direction, as viewed from the front face of the control dial i 23. Specifically, operation of the timer motor |25 may effect rotation of the operating shaft |22' at a timed rate of precisely one revolution per hour. The slipclutch |27 permits relative rotation between the operating shaft 22 and the gearing |26 when the control dial |23 is manually rotated. Thus it will be understood that the operating shaft |222', and consequently the control cams lCl to C, inclusive; may be operated both manually by'manipulati'on of the control dial |23 and automatically by op*- eration of the timer motor |25.

The push-button switch |2| is of the manually operable type and is normally biasedinto its open position. The push-button switch l52| is operative, as explained more fully hereinafter, to effect energization of the admission valve solenoid 99 so that the admission valve 99 may be operated into its open position to place the interior of the storage tank 96Y into communication with the connection 97, and consequently via the 15 exhaust valve in its open position to the atmosphere. This arrangement provides for the release of compressed air from the storage tank 96 when the machine I0 is not in use.

Further, the machine |0 comprises a manually operable control switch |28 that may be of the rotatable type and including an operating shaft |29 `carrying a control dial |30 on the outer end thereof. The control dial |30 is rigidly secured to the operating shaft |28 and carries an index pointer cooperating with two spaced-apart indices respectively corresponding to the normal position and to the operated position of the control switch |28. Tne control switch |28 may be carried by the top wall of the casing, not shown, of the machine l0 so that the control dial |30 is readily accessible from the exterior. Further, the control switch |28 comprises two pairs of control contacts |3| and |32 respectively included in the circuits for energizing the solenoid 89 and the solenoid |0|, the contact pairs |3| and |32 being selectively operative between closed and open positions in response to rotation of the control shaft |29 as a result of rotation of the control dial |30 between its normal and operated positions. More specifically, when the control switch |28 occupies its normal position, the circuits for the solenoids 89' and ISI are prepared so that in the automatic timed cycle of the machine |0, the program selector switch |20 may control the solenoids 99 and |0|, whereby the high pressure squeeze of the diaphragm 4| is included in the automatic timed cycle of the machine I0. On the other hand, when the control switch |28 occupies its operated position, the high pressure squeeze of the diaphragm 4| is omitted from the automatic timed cycle of the machine I0; all as explained more fully hereinafter. Thus, the high pressure squeeze of the diaphragm 4| upon the clothes contained in the compartment 44 may be selectively included or excluded from the automatic timed cycle of the machine |0 by selective manipulation of the control switch |28.

For the purpose of controlling the operation of the washing machine |0, an electric circuit network is incorporated therein, which circuit network is of the semi-automatically governed type, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, the solenoids ||3 and ||4 of the inlet valve mechanism |08 are indicated; the solenoid |0|l of the exhaust valve |0 l, the solenoid 99 of the admission valve 99 and the solenoid 92' of the drain valve S2 are indicated; the solenoids 18' and 10' of the respective clutch mechanism 18 and 12 are indicated; the drive motor is indicated; the solenoid |05' of the vent valve |05 is indicated; and the timer motor |25 of the program selector switch |20 is indicated. Also, in Fig. 2, the control cams C| to C9, inclusive, the control switches SI to S9, inclusive, and the master switch MS of the program selector switch |20 are indicated, together with the push-button switch |2|, the control switch |28, and the pressure responsive switch |04. Further, the circuit network comprises a source of 60 cycle 110 volts A. C., the terminals of which are respectively connected to a supply conductor |50 grounded in the machine |0 and to a supply conductor |5| ungrounded in the machine I0. One terminal of the master switch MS is connected to the supply conductor |5| and the other terminal thereof is connected to a feed conductor |52. One terminal of each of the solenoids ||4, ||3, |0|, 99', 92', 18', 19 and |05', as well as one terminal of the drive motor 15 and one terminal of the timer motor |25, is connected to the supply conductor |50.

The control switch S| comprises two springs, one of which is connected to the feed conductor |52, and the other of which is connected to the other terminal of the solenoid ||4. The control switch S2 comprises two springs, one of which is connected to the feed conductor |52, and the other of which is connected to the other terminal of the solenoid ||3. The control switch S3 comprises two springs, one of which is connected to the feed conductor |52, and the other of which is connected to one of the contacts of the pair |32, the other contact of the pair |32 being connected to the other terminal of the solenoid |0|'. The control switch S4 comprises two springs, one of which is connected to the feed conductor |52, and the other of which is connected to one of the contacts of the pair |3|, the other contact of the pair |3| being connected to the other terminal of the solenoid 89. The control switch S5 comprises two springs, one of which is connected to the feed conductor |52, and the other of which is connected to the other terminal of the solenoid 92'. The control switch S6 comprises two springs, one of which is connected to the feed conductor |52, and the other of which is connected to the other terminal of the solenoid 18'. The control switch S1 comprises four springs, the first or lowermost of which is connected to the feed conductor |52. The second spring of the control switch S1 is connected commonly to the one contact of the pressure responsive switch |04 and to the other terminal of the drive motor 15, the other contact of the pressure responsive switch |04 being connected to the other terminal of the solenoid 19. The third spring of the control switch S1 is connected directly to the supply conductor |5|; and the fourth or uppermost spring of the control switch S1 is connected to one contact of the push-button switch |2|, the other contact of the push-button switch |2| being commonly connected to the other terminal of the solenoid and to the other contact of the pair |3|. The control switch S8 comprises two springs, one of which is connected to the feed conductor |52, and the other of which is connected to the other terminal of the solenoid |05'. The control switch S9 comprises two springs, one of which is connected to the feed conductor |52, and the other of which is connected to the other terminal ofthe timer motor |25. As illustrated, the bridging member of the pressure responsive switch |04 normally occupies its closed position with respect to its associated contacts; and the bridging member of the push-button switch |2| normally occupies its open position with respect to the associated contacts.

Considering now the operation of the machine |0, in conjunction with the circuit control network illustrated in Fig. 2, when the control dial |23 of the program selector switch |20 occupies its normal off position, the 0 position thereof, the control cams CI, C2, C3, C4, C5, C0, C8 and C8 operate their respectively associated control switches Si, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S0 and S9 into their open positions, while the control cam C1 operates the control switch S1 so that the contacts between the rst and second springs thereof are opened and the contacts between the third and fourth springs thereof are closed. Also at this time, when the control dial |23 occupies its normal inward position, the master switch MS is operated to its open position. Further at this time, it is assumed that the control switch |28 occupies its normal position so that the contacts of the pairs |3| and |32 occupy their closed positions. Finally at this time, it is assumed that the pressure responsive switch |04 occupies its closed position. Accordingly, all of the electric circuits are open at this time.

In order to wash a given load of clothes, the operator first rotates the handle 38 of the latch mechanism to withdraw the latch bar 39 from its keeper 48, and the door 28 is moved into its open position. The clothes are then placed into the compartment 84 through the opening 21, and hot or warm or cold water is admitted into compartment 44 as required by the character of the fabrics to be washed. Then an appropriate amount of detergent is placed in the wash water contained in the compartment 44, and the door 29 is returned to its closed position, and the handle 38 is rotated again to project the latch bar 39 into its keeper 89. At this time, the door 29 is securely latched in its closed position and the sealing gaskets 38 and 81 engage the associated portion of the throat 28 in order hermetically to seal the opening 21. However, at this time, the compartment 44 is still in communication with the atmosphere since the vent valve |05 normally occupies its open position. Also at this time, the chamber 45 is in communication with the atmosphere since the exhaust valve |8| normally occupies its open position. Accordingly, there is no diiferential pressure between the opposite faces of the diaphragm 4| so that the diaphragm 4| is moved into its normal position, in the event it is not already in its normal position, by the hydrostatic head of the wash water that is admitted into the compartment 44.

In order to admit hot water into the compartment 44, the user first rotates the control dial |23 in the clockwise direction from its olf position, the position thereof into its "hot ll position, the 20 position thereof, and then moved the control dial |23 outwardly. When the control dial |23 is rotated into its hot fill position, the control cam C2 operates the control switch S2 to its closed position in order to preselect the circuit of the solenoid ||3, and the control cam C1 operates the control switch S1 to open the contacts between the third and fourth springs thereof and to close the contacts between the lirst and second springs thereof. When the contacts between the third and fourth springs of the control switch Sl are thus opened, the push-button switch |2| is disabled for a purpose more fully explained hereinafter; and when the lcontacts between the iirst and second springs of the control switch S'! are thus closed, the circuits of the drive motor 15 and the solenoid 19 are preselected. When the control dial |23 is then moved outwardly, the master switch MS is closed connecting the supply conductor to the feed conductor |52 in order to complete the previously selected circuits. Specifically, the circuit for operating the drive motor is completed in order to initiate operation thereof; and the circuit for energizing the solenoid 19 is completed, assuming that less than the given gauge pressure of the compressed air in the storage tank 95 maintains at this time so that the pressure responsive switch |84 occupies its closed position. Accordingly, the solenoid 19 is energized, whereby the clutch mechanism 19 is operated into its clutched position, the drive shaft 18 of the drive motor 15 rotating the stub shaft 83 through the clutch mechanism 19. The rotating stub shaft 83 drives the stub shaft 8l' through the fluid coupling unit 86, whereby the rotor of the air compressor 88 is rotated causing the air compressor 88 to take in air from the atmosphere through the inlet connection 89 and the associated lter device 84 and then to compress it and discharge it through the outlet connection and the associated check valve 95 into the connected storage tank 96. The check valve 95 prevents the compressed air contained in the storage tank 98 from leaking back through the outlet connection 98 into the casing of the air compressor 88 after operation of the air compressor 88 is subsequently arrested in a well-known manner.

Accordingly, as time proceeds, the pressure of the compressed air in the storage tank 96 is increased due to the operation of the air compressor 88 until the given gauge pressure of the compressed air therein is reached, depending upon the setting of the pressure responsive switch |84. For reference purposes, it may be assumed that the pressure responsive switch |04 is set to operate at the given gauge pressure of two atmospheres in the storage tank 96. Hence, when the gauge pressure of the compressed air in the storage tank 96 is below two atmospheres, the pressure responsive switch |84 occupies its closed position; and when the gauge pressure of the compressed air in the storage tank 98 is at two atmospheres the pressure responsive switch |88 occupies its open position. Specifically, when the two atmospheres gauge pressure is reached in the storage tank S8 the switch |84 is operated with a snap action between its closed position and its open position, interrupting the circuit for energizing the solenoid 19 so that the clutch mechanism 19 is returned to its declutched position to arrest further operation of the air compressor 88. Thereafter in the event the pressure of the air in the storage tank 95 falls below the two atmospheres gauge, the switch |84 is returned with a snap action into its closed position in order again to complete the circuit for energizing the solenoid 19', so as again to operate the clutch mechanism 19 to its clutched position in order again to initiate operation of the air compressor 88. Thus it will be understood that the pressure responsive switch |84 acts as a regulator maintaining the pressure of the air in the storage tank 98 at the two atmospheres gauge so long as the drive motor 15 is operating. Moreover, it will be understood that the iluid drive unit 86 accommodates slippage between the stub shafts 83 and 81, and consequently between the drive shaft 15 of the drive motor 15 and the rotor of the air compressor 88, whereby the fluid drive unit 86 also acts as a regulator to prevent the presence of an exceedingly high gauge pressure of the air in the storage tank 98, should the pressure responsive switch iller be inadvertently set or adjusted to an inordinate and unreasonable high gauge pressure.

Also at this time, the solenoid H3 of the inlet valve mechanism |88 is energized, whereby hot water is supplied from the hot water supply conduit |88 via the casing |89 of the inlet valve mechanism |88 and the inlet conduit 64 into the upstanding space 49, and consequently into the compartment 44. As the hot water is thus admitted into the compartment 84, the air therein is displaced both through the vent conduit 98 that is in communication with the atmosphere and through the overflow conduit that is operatively connected via the conduit 9| to the iiuid pump 11. Specically, the fluid pump 17 is operated when the drive motor 15 .is operated .since the rotor of the fluid pumpv11 is directly connected to the drive shaft 'it of the drive motor 75, whereby the air withdrawn by the fluid pump 'Vi through the overflow conduit 65 from the compartment i4 is exhausted to the exterior via the conduit 93. lThus the interior of the compartment ce is vented to the atmosphere during the filling operation notwithstanding the circumstance that the door 2t is hermetically sealed to the top wall 2l of the section l2 and within the opening Z'i provided in the top wall 2l. .As previously noted, the chamber 5 is in communication with the atmosphere at this time, whereby the hot water admitted into the compartment A!! insures that the diaphragm c! is returned into its normal concave position.

At this time, should the user inadvertently fill the compartment 44 to overflowing, as established by the upper end of the overflow conduit 65, the excess water falls through the overow conduit E5 and is pumped by the fluid pump 'Vl to the exterior via the conduit E33 since the upper end of the overiiow conduit 55 positively establishes the normal liquid level in the compartment 44, as indicated by the broken line E?, the fiuid pump 'Vl being capable of pumping both air and water as previously noted. This arrangement positively prevents overflowing of the machine IQ and the consequent ooding of the laundry room in which it is located.

After the user has filled the compartment with a charge of hot wash water. she operates the control dial 23 into its inward position in order to operate the master switch MS to its open ncsition so as to interrupt the previously selected circuits. At this time, operation of the drive motor is arrested; the solenoid 7S'v is cle-energized to effect operation of the clutch mechanism 'i9 to its declutched position: and the solenoid i i3 is de-enererized to effect operation of the inlet valve mechanism H28 to its closed position.

In view of the foregoing description of the control of the circuit network incident to fillinsr of the compartment M. with hot water, it will be understood that the operation thereof is substantially identical incident to lling of the compartment M, with warm water or cold water. Speciiically, when tbe control dial 23 is rotated to its warm fill position. the 2-fi position thereof. the circuits of both oVF the snlpnoids Il@ and IM are preselected: and when the cont-,m1 dial |22 is rotated to its "cold fill position. the 52 position thereof. the circuit of only the cold water solenoid l l/i is preselected. Tn either case, the preselected circuits are completed when the control dial '93 is ultimately operated into its outward position.

After the compartment M has been llefl with hot or warm or cold water. in the manner explained above. the control dial 12R is rotated further in the clockwise direction into its wash position. the position evtending from tbe 68 position thereof to the 148i position thereof. and then is operated into its outward position. When the control dial 123 is rotated into its wash position. the control cam C6 operates the control switch S6 to preselect the circuit of the solenoid 18'; the control cam Cl operates the control switch S1 to preselect the circuit of the drive motor 15 and the circuit of the solenoid l'; and the control cam CS operates the control switch S9 to preselect the circuit of the timer motor 125. When the control dial it is then operated into its outward position, the drive motor 15 is operated and the clutch mechanism l is operated under the control of the vpressure responsive switch it in the manner previously explained.

Also the solenoid 78' is energized effecting operation of the clutch mechanism i8 into its cluthed position; and operation of the timer motor i245 is initiated. Accordingly, the drive motor 15 effects rotation of its drive shaft '55, and the stub shaft S2 through the clutch mechanism 18 in its clutched position. The rotating stub shaft {12eifects rotation of the operating shaft Eli through the pulleys 84 and 57 operatively connected by the V-belt 85, whereby the operating shaft 54, and consequently the flasher E3, is rotated. Speciiically the dasher 53 disposed in the compartment lid is rotated in the clockwise direction, as Viewed from the front face thereof; whereby the dasher 53 produces the washing action upon the clothes suspended in the wash liquid contained in the compartment d in the manner previously explained. During the wash step of the machine IG, the fluid pump 'ii is operated in order to withdraw air from the compartment ce through the overflow conduit 55, which air is discharged to the exterior by the duid pump 'El via the conduit Q3. The air thus withdrawn from the compartment 44, is replaced by fresh air admitted thereinto through the vent conduit Gt, wl'iereby fresh air is supplied to the compartment Fall during the normal washing operation of the machine I9. This arrangement is very advantageous as it insures the aeration of the clothes with fresh air during the normal washing operation. It will be understood that as the clothes contained in the compartment l are washed, they are moved and rearranged in a substantially upstanding circular path so that they repeatedly break the normal liquid level of the wash liquid in the compartment M taking fresh air with them hack into the wash liquid contained in the compartment 44 as the clothes are thus circulated and rearranged during the normal washing operation.

As previously explained, when the washing operation is initiated, operation of the timer motor 25 is initiated, whereby the timer motor i225 rotates the operating shaft E22 of the program selector switch 52E further in the clockwise direction through the reduction gearing 25 and the slipclutch 21. Specifically, the operating shaft 22 of the program selector switch |223 is driven from its wash position progressively through its other control positions toward its oif position, as explained more fully hereinafter. As noted above, the wash position of the operating shaft i22 extends from the 68 position thereof to the 148 position thereof coverlng an arc of and a corresponding time interval of ten minutes, since the rate of operation of the timer motor |25 corresponds to 8 of rotation per minute of the operating shaft E22. Accordingly, incident to rotation of the control dial E23 into its wash position, it is selectively set within its wash position between the 63 position thereof and the 148 position thereof, thereby to preselect a suitable time interval for the wash step within the ten minute range. For examples, initial rotation of the Control dial l23 into the respective 68 and 76 positions thereof respectively correspond to washing times of ten minutes and nine minutes. Thus when the user operates the control dial 23 into its wash position, she also sets the desired washing time within the ten minute range as noted above, prior to operation of the control dial 23 into its outward position.

At the conclusion of the preset wash time interval, the timer motor 25 rotates the operating Shaft. 122 into its wa-sh, drain and squeeze po- 21 sition, the 148 position thereof. At this time, the control cam C operates the control switch S5 to complete the circuit for energizing the solenoid 92, of the drain valve 92, whereby the drain valve 92 is operated into its open position to permit the wash liquid contained in the compartment 44 to fall through the drain conduit 'i3 into the conduit 9| so that it may be pumped by the fluid pump 'l1 to the exterior via the conduit 93. Also, the control cam C6 operates the control switch S6 to interrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid 18 of the clutch mechanism 'I8 so that the clutch mechanism 18 is returned to its declutched position in order to arrest further operation of the dasher 53. Further, the control cam C8 operates the control switch S8 to complete the circuit for energizing the solenoid |05 of the vent valve |05 so that the vent valve |05 is operated to its closed position. Accordingly, at this time, the compartment 44 is hermetically sealed against the atmosphere since the vent conduit 66 is now closed, whereby the operation of the iuid pump TI to withdraw the Wash liquid from the compartment 44 effects the partial evacuation of the compartment 44. At this time some of the air in the compartment 44 may be withdrawn therefrom through the overflow conduit 65; however, the wash liquid in the compartment .44 is preferentially withdrawn due to the hydrostatic head thereof. Since the chamber 45 is in communication with the atmosphere at this time, a differential pressure soon develops between the opposite sides thereof, whereby the diaphragm 4| begins to collapse and is progressively moved from its normal concave position into its operated convex position. Specifically, the upper portion of the diaphragm 4| begins to collapse first into engagement with the inner wall 32 of the door 29 and toward the plate 46. As the wash liquid is drained from the compartment 44, the lower portion of the diaphragm 4| begins to collapse and move toward the plate 46. Ultimately after all of the wash liquid contained in the compartment 44 has been drained therefrom, the continued operation of the fluid pump withdraws air from the compartment 44, both through the overflow Conduit 65 and through the drain conduit 73 so that the evacuation of the compartment 44 continues causing a partial vacuum therein in order that the differential pressure existing between the compartment 44 and the chamber 45 may move the diaphragm 4| completely from its normal concave position into its operated convex position. Specically, after a short time within the wash, drain and squeeze position of the program selector switch |20, all of the wash liquid in the compartment. is drained therefrom and a partial vacuum is attained therein so that the diaphragm 4| is moved from its normal position into its operated position. As the diaphragm 4| is thus moved into its operated position, the clothes contained in compartment 44 are squeezed between the front face of the diaphragm 4| and the plate 46 and the dasher 53, whereby the bulk of the absorbed wash liquid contained in the clothes is expressed therefrom and passes through the openings 4l formed in the plate 46 and runs into the upstanding space 49 and thence into the drain conduit '|3 so that this wash liquid thus expressed from the clothes may be pumped by the fluid pump 17 to the exterior. At this time, continued operation of the fluid pump 'l1 further reduces the pressure in the compartment 44.50 that within a short time interval a differential pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure is exerted upon the diaphragm 4|, whereby the diaphragm 4| squeezes the clothes with a pressure substantially equal to one atmosphere.

The wash, drain and squeeze step mentioned above is carried out for a time interval of six minutes corresponding to 48 of rotation of the program selector switch |20, whereby the program selector switch |20 reaches its release position beginning at the 196 position thereof. In the release position of the program selector switch |20, the control cam C5 operates the control switch S5 to interrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid 92 of the drain valve 92, whereby the drain valve 92 is returned to its closed position. Also the control cam CB operates the control switch SS to interrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid |05 of the Vent valve |05, whereby the Vent valve |05 is returned to its open position. When the vent valve |05 is thus returned to its open position, air from atmosphere is admitted through the vent conduit 66 into the compartment 44, whereby the pressure in the compartment 44 is again restored to one atmosphere so that there is now no differential pressure between the opposite faces of the diaphragm 4|. The diaphragm 4| is thus returned from its operated position at least partially towards its normal position by virtue of the weight of the clothes in the compartment 44.

The program selector switch |29 is then operated into its rinse, warm fill position, the 200 position thereof, whereby the control cams C| and C2 operate the respective control switches SI and S2 to effect energization of the respective solenoids 4 and H3 of the inlet valve mechanism |08. Specically, the energization of the solenoids 3 and ||4 opens both the hot Water supply conduit |06 and the cold water supply conduit |01 into the casing |09 of the inlet valve mechanism |08, whereby the water thus mixed is warm and is delivered from the casing |09 via the inlet conduit 64 into the upstanding space 49, and consequently into the compartment 44. Thus at this time, the compartment 44 is filled with warm water, and within the rinse, warm lill step the compartment 44 is filled to overflowing so that the excess warm water supplied to the compartment 44 overfdows therefrom via the overflow conduit 65 and is pumped to the exterior by the uid pump 11.

After a short time interval, the program selector switch |29 is rotated into its agitate position, the 224 position thereof, whereby the control cams C| and C2 operate the respective control switches S and S2 to interrupt the respective circuits for energizing the solenoids ||v4 and I3 so as to interrupt the supply of warm water via the inlet conduit 64 to the compartment 44. Also at this time, the control cam C6 operates the control switch S6 to recornplete the circuit for energizing the solenoid 'i8' of the clutch mechanism 18, whereby operation of the dasher 53 is initiated to cause a thorough rinsingaction to be produced upon the clothes contained in the compartment 44. This agitate step continues until the program selector switch |20 is operating into its cold overow position, the 240 position thereof. At this time, the control cam C| operates the control switch Si so that the circuit for energizing the solenoid i4 of the inlet valve mechanism |98 is recompleted, whereby cold water is supplied via the inlet conduit 6,4 intov the compartment 44. During the cold overow stepoperation of the. dasher 53 is continued so that the clothes containedfin the compartment 44 are thoroughly rinsed and the excess water supply to the compartment d4is overowed therefrom. via the overflow conduit 55, in order positively to insure the removal of suds from the compartment 44 and all detergent from the clothes contained therein.

The cold overow step continues until the program selector switch |2 is operated into its rinse drain and squeeze position, the 256 position thereof. At this time, the control cam C! operates the control switch Sl m order to interrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid H4, whereby the inlet valve mechanism |68 is operated to interrupt the supply of cold water via the inlet conduit G4 into the compartment 4.4. Also, the control cam C5 operates the control switch S5 in order to recomplete the circuit for energizing the solenoid 92 so that the drain valve 92 is again operated into its open position. Further, the control cam C6 operated the control switch Se to interrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid 'l' so that the clutch mechanism 'I8 is returned to its declutohed position to arrest further operation of the dasher 53. Finally, the control cam C8 operates the control switch S8 to recomplete the circuit for energizing the solenoid |95 so that the vent valve |05 is reoperated to its closed position. At this time, the rinse water container in the compartment 44 is drained therefrom and ultimately a partial vacuum is drawn in the compartment 40 as a consequence of operation of the huid pump 11., all in the manner previously explained. Accordingly shortly following the beginning of the rinse drain and squeeze step, the diaphragm 4| is operated from its normal position into its operated position to bring about the squeezing of the rinse water from the clothes contained in the compartment 44.

The rinse drain and squeeze step continues until the program control switch is operated into its closed to atmosphere position, the 304 iosition thereof, whereupon the control cam C3 operates the control switch S3 to complete the circuit for energizing the solenoid IUI' of the exhaust valve lill. The circuit mentioned includes the pair of contacts |32 that is closed at this time, assuming that the control switch |28 occupies its normal position. When the solenoid IGI is thus energized, the exhaust valve ||l| is operated to its closed position in order to close the connection 91, and consequently the chamber e5, of?` from the atmosphere; however, atmospheric pressure still maintains in the chamber 45 at this time.

In a very brief interval of time, the program selector switch I2@ is operated into its high pressure squeeze position, the 308 position thereof, whereby the control cam C4 operates the control switch S4 to complete the circuit for energizing the solenoid 99 of the admission valve 9S. The circuit mentioned includes the pair of contacts |3| that is closed at this time, assuming that the control switch |23 occupies its normal position. When the solenoid 99 is thus energized, the admission valve 99 is operated to its open position, whereby the storage tank 95 is connected via the conduit S8, the connection 9'?, and the air conduit 13 to the chamber 45 so that the pressures between the storage tank 95 and the chamber 45 quickly equalize. Specifically, the predetermined gauge pressure is lquickly established inthe chamber e5' and is exerted `uponthe rear .face ofthe diaphragm 4|, whereby-the absolute pressure that is exerted by the diaphragmM upon the clothes contained in compartment 44 is substantially equal to the predetermined gauge pressure plus the atmospheric pressure since a vacuum is still being drawnY in the interior of the compartment 44 by the operating Huid pump 11.

Reconsidering the equalization of the pressures between the storage tank 9S and the charnber 45, it will be appreciated that the gas law P1V1=PQV2 is utilized and that it is only necessary momentarily to effect operation of the admission valve 99 into its open position. The pressure equalization is automatic and it may be assumed that the initial pressure in the storage tank 96 was two atmospheres gauge and that the nal pressure in the system is one-half atmosphere gauge. From a simple calculation it follows that the volume of the storage tank 9B that is required must be equal to only one third of the volume of the chamber 45 when the diaphragm 4| is in its operated position. From a practical standpoint, this means that when the volume of the storage tank is equal to onethird of the volume of the tub the condition above described is ultimately obtained under the circumstances noted upon the operation of the admission valve S9 into its open position. Of course, in the event a somewhat higher nnal squeezing pressure is desired in the chamber 45, this result may be obtained by increasing the initial gauge pressure maintained in the storage tank 96 by the setting of the pressure responsive valve |64, and as a matter of adjustment, the pressure at which the pressure responsive switch m4 is operated between its closed position and its open position is set above two atmospheres.

It is noted that the safety or poppet valve |93 is adjusted so that an undesirable high gauge pressure may not be obtained in the connection S'! and consequently in the chamber 45. In the present example, the poppet valve |03 would be set to respond and operate from its normal closed position into its open position when a pressure somewhat in excess of one-half atmosphere gauge is present in the connection 9?. The arrangement of the poppet valve |03 positively prevents the presence of excess pressure in the chamber 45 and upon the diaphragm 4 since the poppet valve, |03` upon operating into its open position places the connection 97 into communication with the atmosphere.

Of course, after any excess pressure in the connection Bl is passed to the atmosphere, the poppet valve |03 is returned to its normal closed position. Y

After a brief time interval, the program selector switch |20 is operated into its hold pressure squeeze position, the 312 position thereof, whereby the control cam C4 operates the control switchi'Sll to, interrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid 99 of the admission valve 99 so that the admission valve 99 is again returned to its normal closed position. It will be appreciated that it is only necessary for the admission valve to remain in its open position for a very brief interval of time in order to obtain the pressure equalization between the storage tank 9G and the chamber 45 as described above, whereupon the admission valve 99 may be returned to its closed -position still retaining the predetermined gauge pressure in the chamber 45 since the exhaust valve IUI occupies its closed position at this time.

The hold pressure squeeze step of the machine IQ continues until the program selector switch |20 is operated into its "release pressure" circuit for energizing the solenoid |65 of the vent valve lii, whereby the vent Valve l05 is returned to its normal open position again to place the interior of the compartment et into communication with the atmosphere via the vent conduit B5. Accordingly, at this time, atmospheric pressure is restored both in the compartment lill and in the chamber d5, wherebi,7 the diaphragm #il is released to terminate the pressure squeezing action upon the clothes contained in the compartment rdil. During the time interval that the diaphragm 4| exerts the pressure squeezing action upon the clothes in the compartment lll additional of the rinse water absorbed thereby is squeezed therefrom and drained via the drain conduit i3 so that it may be pumped to the exterior by the r:

fluid pump 'il'. During this hold pressure squeeze step of the machine lll, the amount of rinse liquid absorbed by the clothes is greatly reduced so that at the conclusion of this step, the weight or" the absorbed wash liquid is considerably less than the weight of the clothes. Specifically, during the hold pressure squeeze step of the machine l, the amount oi rinse liquid absorbed by 8 pounds of clothes may be readily reduced to approximately 7 pounds. Accordingly, at the beginning I" the release pressure step of the machine it, the iinal amount of absorbed rinse liquid has a weight considerably less than that of the weight of the clothes.

A short time interval later, the program selector switch 2li is operated back into its 360 or 0 position, whereby the control cam C5, Ci and C9 operate the respectively associating control switches S5, Si and S9. Specifically, the control cam C operates the control switch S5 to interrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid 92 of the drain valve 92 so that the drain valve 92 is returned to its normal closed position. The control cam Cl' operates the control switch Sl in order to disengage the first and second contacts thereof so as to interrupt the circuit for energizing the solenoid l' of the clutch mechanism 19 and to interrupt the circuit for operating the drive motor l5, whereby the clutch mechanism 'i9 is returned to its normal declutched position and operation of the motor 'i5 is arrested. Also, the control switch Sl is operated again to engage the third and fourth contacts thereof, in order again to enable the push-button switch |2| for a purpose more fully explained hereinafter. Finally, the control cam C9 operates the control switch S9 to interrupt the circuit for operating the timer motor so as to arrest further rotation of the operating shaft |22 of the program selector switch lit', wherebyl the control dial |23 or" the program selector switch |20 is arrested in its oi position.

At this time, the automatic timed cycle of the machine le has been completed and further operation thereof is arrested. Moreover since the compartment il@ and the chamber are again vented to the atmosphere, the diaphagxn ill is returned at least partially from its operated position back into its normal position by the weight 0f the clothes in the compartment 44 and the door 2 may be readily moved into its open position with respect to the opening 2l' after the handle 38 has been rotated to withdraw the latch bar from its keeper After the door 25 is thus opened, the user may remove the clothes from the compartment il through the opening 2l and place them into a drying machine orthe like in order to prepare them for ironing.

Reconsidering the operation oi the machine It, in the event that the fabrics that are to be washed are of such a character that the inal high-pressure squeeze thereof is not desired, the highpressure squeeze step of the machine Il) may be readily omitted from the automatic timed cycle of operation thereof merely by operating the control switch 23 from its normal pressure squeeze position into its omit pressure squeeze position. When the control switch |28 is thus operated from its normal position. to its operated position, the shaft |29 thereof operates the Contact pairs |3| and |32 into open position in order to disable the control switches SG and S3, so as positively to prevent energization of the respective solenoids et and lill' under the control of the program selector switch |29.

In the automatic timed cycle of the machine I0, when the control switch |28 occupies its operated position, as described above, it will be appreciated that the initial steps in the cycle are the same as described above. Specically in this case, the compartment e4 is Iilled with hot or warm or cold water by manual manipulation of the control dial |23 of the program selector switch 52d in the manner described above, and then the control dial |23 is set into its wash position in order to establish the desired wash time and to initiate operation of the program selector switch ld under the control of the timer motor |25 in the manner previously explained. The program selector |26 then eiects the wash step, the wash drain and squeeze step, the release step, the rinse warm fill step, the agitato step, the cold overflow step and the rinse drain and squeeze step. However, in this case, when the program selector switch |26 is operated into its close to atmosphere position, the 304 position thereof, the operation by the control cam C3 of the control switch S3 is without eect so that the exhaust valve remains in its open position. Subsequently when the program selector switch |25 is operated into its high pressure squeeze position, the 308 position thereof, the operation by the control cam Cl of the control switch S4 isV without effect so that the admission valve 99 remains in its closed position.

Accordingly in this case, the rinse drain and squeeze step of the machine Ill is continued between the 256 position and the 356 position of the program selector switch |20; and the iinal release of the vacuum in the compartment 44 when the program selector switch |26 reaches its 356 position is the same as that described above. Thus, it will be understood that when the high pressure squeeze step. of the machine IU is omitted, the low pressure squeeze step is accordingly extended in the automatic timed cycle of operation of the program selector switch |23.

Recapitulating, when the control switch |28 occupies its normal position, the low-pressure squeeze step of the machine I extends from the 256 position to the 308 position of the program selector switch iZe (6l/2 minutes) and the highpressure squeeze step of the machine I0 extends from the 308 position to the 356 position of the program selector switch |2ll (6 minutes).

On the other hand, when the control switch 523 occupies its operated position, the low-pressure squeeze step oi the machine i8 extends from the 255 position to the 356 position of thc program selector switch |20 (121/2 minutes). it will be understood that in the operation of the machine i0 when the high-pressure squeeze" step of six minutes is omitted, the low-pressure squeeze step of 61/2 minutes is extended by the omitted six minutes, producing a total lowpressure squeeze step oi 121/2 minutes. This arrangement is most advantageous as it permits the extraction of absorbed rinse water irom delicate fabrics without the exertion of the highpressure squeezing action of the diaphragm il thereupon, and is frequently employed when a very few light garments are to oe washed, which garments might be made of silk, rayon and synthetic fibers. Specifically, this operation of the machine id is especially suited to the washing of nylon fabrics, as such rabrics do not really absorb the rinse water in the iibers thereof, but merely retain it in the intersections of the threads in the weave or knit.

When the program selector switch 52d occupies its normal oi position, the control cam Ci operates the control switch Si to enable the pushbutton switch izi as previously noted. Accordingly, at this time, in the event the push-button switch i is manually operated, a circuit, including the supply conductor i5 l, the third and fourth springs of the control switch Si', the push-button switch IZI and the supply conductor i553, is completed for energizing the solenoid oi the admission Valve Q9, whereby the admission valve S9 is operated into its open position. When the admission valve is thus operated into its open position, the compressed air in the storage tank Sii passes into the connection 9'! and via the exhaust valve isi in its normal open position to the atmosphere. rihis arrangement eiects the complete release of pressure in the system and particularly in the storage tank 5S. While it is not necessary to release the pressure of the compressed air stored in the storage tank 95 after operation of the machine lo, this may be accomplished if desired as a result of operation of the push-button switch i2! when the program selector switch i2@ occupies its orf position as explained above. The arrangement does permit the complete reduction of pressure in the storage tank 9G and is useful when it is desired to maire adjustments or repairs ci the elements of the machine it involving the storage tank Se and the connected pressure conduit system.

In view of the foregoing, it is app-arent that there has been provided a clothes washing machine that is capable of being constructed in a compact and portable form rendering it especially useful in apartments, or the like, which machine is of rugged and economical construction and arrangement and that embodies both washing and water extracting facilities and is of efficient operation and design. Also, it will be understood that the improved arrangement for selectivelyT controlling the nnal pressure that is exerted by the diaphragm upon the clothes in order to extract the rinse water therefrom, adapts the machine to the laundering of a great variety of fabrics and a large range of loads. Further, it will be appreciated that the arrangement comprising the compressed air storage tank in conjunction with the diaphragm and the substantially flat disk-like dasher materially contributes to the overall emciency of the machine and the gentle and thorough washing action thereof. Finally, it will be appreciated that the method that is employed in the cycle of operation of the machine wherein the clothes are first gently pressed by the diaphragm and then more severely by the diaphragm, not only produces a thorough extraction of the absorbed rinse liquid from the clothes but is productive of a thorough extracting action that is gentle and harmless even to the most delicate fabrics.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and

- it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clothes washing machine including a tub defining a fluid-tight compartment adapted to contain clothes and Wash liquid, said tub having an opening formed in the upper portion thereof rendering said compartment accessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tub to render said compartment huid-tight, and mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprising an iniet conduit communicating with said compartment, a wash liquid supply system connected to said inlet conduit, an inlet valve included in said inlet conduit, means for selectively controlling the position of said inlet valve, a vent conduit communicating between said compartment and the atmosphere, a vent valve included in said vent conduit, means for selectively controlling the position of said vent valve, a drain conduit communicating with the lower portion of said compartment, a drain valve included in said drain conduit, means for selectively controlling the position of said drain valve, an overflow conduit communicating with the upper portion of said compartment and establishing the normal level of the wash liquid in said compartment, a iluid pump communicating with both said drain conduit and said overflow conduit and operative to withdraw excess wash liquid from said compartment Via said overiiow conduit and to withdraw substantially all of the wash liquid from said compartment via said drain conduit when said drain valve is open, said iiuid pump also being operative to withdraw air from said compartment via said overflow conduit and via said drain conduit when said drain valve is open so as to create a partial vacuum in said compartment when said vent valve is closed, the wash liquid and the air withdrawn from said compartment by said uid pump being discharged thereby to the exterior, means for operating said fluid pump, and a iiexible diaphragm forming at least a portion of a wall of said compartment and movable from a normal position into an operated position to exert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so as to express the wash liquid from the clothes, said diaphragm having an outside surface subjected to atmospheric pressure so that said diaphragm is moved thereby from its normal position into its operated position in response to the evacuation of said compartment.

2. n a clothes washing machine including a tub denlng a fluid-tight compartnent adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, said tub having an opening formed in the upperv portion thereof rendering said compartment accessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tub to render said compartment Huid-tight, and mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprising a fluid pump communicating with said compartment and operative to withdraw therefrom both the wash liquid and the air therein, means for operating said Huid pump, a flexible diaphragm forming at leasta portion of a wall of said compartment and movable from a normal position into an operated position t eX- ert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so as to express the Wash liquid from the clothes, a vent conduit communicating between said compartment and the atmosphere, a vent valve included in said vent conduit, means for selectively controlling the position of said vent Valve. said fluid pump also being operative to draw fresh air through said vent conduit into said compartment when said vent valve is open and to create a partial vacuum in said compartment when said vent valve is closed, said diaphragm having an outside surface subjected to atmospheric pressure so that said diaphragm is moved thereby from its normal position into its operated position in response to the evacuation of said compartment.

b. in a ciotnes washing machine including a tub defining a huid-tight compartment adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, said tub having an opening formed in the upper portion thereof rendering said compartment accessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to sain opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tub to render said compartment huid-tight, and mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprising a vent conduit communicating between said compartment and the atmosphere, a vent valve included in said vent conduit, means for selectively controlling the position of said vent valve, a drain conduit communicating with the lower portion of said compartment, a drain valve included in said drain conduit, means for selectively controlling the position of said drain valve, a fluid pump communicating with the upper portion of said compartment and with said drain conduit, said fluid pump being operative to withdraw air from the upper portion of said compartment when said drain valve is closed and to Withdraw wash liquid from said compartment through said drain conduit when said drain valve is open, means for operating said fluid pump, fresh air being drawn through said vent conduit into said compartment by the operation of said. uid pump when said Vent Valve is open and a partial vacuum being drawn in said compartment by the operation of said iiuid pump when said vent valve is closed, and a flexible diaphragm forming at least a portion of a wall of said compartment and movable from a normal position into an operated position to exert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so as to express the wash liquid from the clothes, said diaphragm having an outside surface subjected to atmospheric pressure so that said diaphragm is moved thereby from its normal position into its operated position in response to the evacuation of said compartment.

4. In a clothes washing machine including a tub defining a Huid-tight compartment adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, said tub having an opening formed in the upper portion thereof rendering said compartment accessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tub to render said compartment fluid-tight, and mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprising a fluid pump communicating with said compartment and operative to withdraw therefrom both the wash liquid and the air therein, means for selectively operating said uid pump, a vent conduit communicating between said compartment and the atmosphere, a vent valve included in said vent conduit, means for selectively controlling the position of said vent Valve, said fluid pump also being operative to draw fresh air through said vent conduit into said compartment when said vent valve is open and to create a partial vacuum in said compartment when said vent valve is closed, a flexible diaphragm forming at least a portion of a wall of said compartment and movable from a normal position into an operated position to exert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so as to express the wash liquid from the clothes, means defining an airtight chamber adjacent to an outside surface of said diaphragm, a relief conduit communicating between said chamber and the atmosphere, a relief vaive included in said relief conduit, and means for selectively controlling the position of said relief valve, said diaphragm being moved from its normal position into its operated position by atmospheric pressure in said chamber when said relief valve is open and in response to the evacuation of said compartment.

5. In a clothes washing machine including a tub defining a fluid-tight compartment adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, said tub having an opening formed in the upper portion thereof rendering said compartment accessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tub to render said compaitment fluid-tight, and mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprising a fluid pump communicating with said compartment and operative to withdraw therefrom both the wash liquid and the air therein so as to create a partial vacuum in said compartment. means for selectively operating said fluid pump, a exible diaphragm forming at least a portion of a wall of said compartment and movable from a normal position into an operated position to exert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so as to express the wash liquid from the clothes, means defining an air-tight chamber adjacent to an outside surface of said diaphragm, means for first admitting air under atmospheric pressure into said chamber in order to move said diaphragm from its normal position into its operated position under atmospheric pressure so as to exert a corresponding light squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment, and means then for supplying nuid under gauge 3l pressure into said chamber in order to increase the pressure upon said diaphragm in its operated position so as to exert a corresponding heavy squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment.

6. In a clothes Washing machine incluolng tub defining a fluid-tight compartment adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, said tub having an opening formed in the upper portion there-l of rendering said compartment accessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tuo to render said compartment huid-tight, and mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprising a fluid pump communicating with said compartment and ope :ive to Withdraw therefrom beth the Wash liquid and the air therein so as to create a partial vacuum said compartment, means for selectively operating said fluid pump, a exible diaphragm forming at least a portion of a Wall of said compartment and movable from a normal position an operated position to exert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so as to express the wash liquid from the clothes, means dening a fluid-tight chamber adjacent to an outside surface of diaphragm, means for first admitting air under atmospheric pressure into said chamber in order to move diaphragm from its normal position into its operated position under atmospheric pressure as to exert a corresponding light squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment, means then for supplying duid under gauge pressure into chamber in order to retain said diaphra fin in operated position jointly by partial. vacuum in said compartment and by the fluid under e pressure in saidL chamber so as to exert a correspending heavy squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment, and means then for placing both said compartment and said chamber in communication with the atmosphere order to relieve the pressure upon said diaphragm so as to terminate the squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment.

7. ln a clothes washing machine including a tub defining a fluid-tight compartment adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, tub having an opening formed in the upper portion thereof rendering said compartment accessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tub to render said compartment duid-tight, and aechanism operativc to produce a Washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprising a fluid pump communicating with said compartment and operative to withdraw therefrom both the Wash liquid and the air therein so as to create a partial vacuum in said compartment, means for selectively operating said fluid pump, a flexible diaphragm forming at least a portion of a Wall of said compartment and movable from a normal position into an operated position to exert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so to express the wash liquid from the clothes, means defining a. uidtight chamber adjacent to an outside surface of said diaphragm, first means operative to admit air under atmospheric pressure into said cham- 'oer in order to move said diaphragm from its` normal position into its operated position soas to exert a corresponding light squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment, second means operative to supply fluid under gauge pressure into said chamber in order to increase the pressure upon said diaphragm in its operated position so as to exert a corresponding heavy squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment, means for selectively setting said second means for operation, and means for operating said rst means and then for operating said second means only in the event it is set for operation so that either said light squeeze or said heavy squeezn may he selectively set to be exerted upon the clothes in said compartment.

3. In a clothes Washing machine including a tub defining a fluid-tight compartment adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, said tub having an opening formed in the upper portion thereof rendering said compartment aaccessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tub to render said compartment fluid-tight, and mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprising a iluid pump communicating With said compartment and operative to Withdraw therefrom both the wash liquid and the air therein so as to create a partial vacuum in said compartment, means f r selectively operating said fluid pump, a ilexi, le diaphragm forming at least a portion of a wall of said compartment and movable from a normal position into an operated position to exert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so as to express the wash liquid from the clothes, means defining an air-tight chamber adjacent to an outside surface of said diaphragm, means for admitting air under atmospheric pressure into said chamber in order to move said diaphragm from its normal position into its operated position, a tank, an air compressor operative to compress and to store air under gauge pressure in said tank, means for selectively operating said air compressor, and means for thereafter connecting said tank to said chamber in order to increase the pressure upon said diaphragm in its operated position so as to increase the pressure exerted by said diaphragm upon the clothes in said compartment.

9. In a clothes Washing machine including a tub denning a fluid-tight compartment adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, said tub having an opening formed in the upper portion thereof rendering said compartment accessible from the exterior, a door mounted for movements between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, said door in its closed position being sealed to said tub to render said compartment Huid-tight, and mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment; the combination comprisinfr a fluid pump communicating with said compartment and operative to withdraw therefrom both the wash liquid and the air therein so as to create a partial vacuum in said compartment, means for selectively operating sai-:l fluid pump, a flexible diaphragm forming at least a portion of a wall o said compartment and movable from a normal position into an operated position to exert a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment so as to express the Wash liquid from the clothes, means defining an air-tight chamber adjacent to an outside surface of said diaphragm, means for admitting air under atmospheric pressure into said chamber in order to move said diaphragm from its normal position into its operated position so as to exert a corresponding light squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment, a tank, an air compressor operative to compress and to store air under gauge pressure in said tank, means for selectively operating said air compressor, means operative to connect said tank to said chamber in order to increase the pressure upon said diaphragm in its operated position so as to exert a corresponding heavy squeeze upon the clothes in said compartment, and means for selectively operating said last-mentioned means so that the ultimate squeeze to be exerted by said diaphragm upon the clothes in said compartment may be selectively established either at said light squeeze or at said heavy squeeze.

l0. A clothes washing machine comprising structure dening a fluid-tight compartment and an air-tight chamber, said structure including a iiexible diaphragm constituting a common wall between said compartment and said chamber, said compartment being adapted to contain clothes and wash liquid, mechanism operative to produce a Washing action upon the clothes in said compartment, means for withdrawing the wash liquid and the air from said compartment so as to create a partial vacuum therein, means for admitting air under atmospheric pressure into said chamber, said diaphragm being moved from a normal position into an operated position jointly in response to the evacuation of said compartment and to the admission of air under atmospheric pressure into said chamber, movement of said diaphragm from its normal position into its operated position exerting a squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment in order to express the wash liquid therefrom, and means for thereafter supplying iiuid under gauge pressure into said chamber in order to increase the pressure upon said diaphragm in its operated position so as to increase the squeezing action exerted by said diaphragm upon the clothes in said compartment.

l1. A clothes washing machine comprising structure dening a duid-tight compartment and an air-tight chamber, said structure including a flexible diaphragm constituting a common wall between said compartment and said chamber, said compartment being adapted to contain clothes and Wash liquid, mechanism operative to produce a washing action upon the clothes in said compartment, means for withdrawing the Wash liquid and the air from said compartment so as to create a partial vacuum therein, means for admitting air under atmospheric pressure into said chamber, said diaphragm being moved from a normal position into an operated position jointly in response to the evacuation of said compartment and to the admission of air under atmospheric pressure into said chamber, movement of said diaphragm from its normal position into its operated position exerting a light squeezing action between said diaphragm and said mechanism upon the clothes in said compartment in order to express the wash liquid therefrom, means operative to supply uid under gauge pressure into said chamber in order to increase the pressure upon said diaphragm in its operated position so as to exert a heavy squeezing action upon the clothes in said compartment, and means for selectively operating said last-mentioned means so that the ultimate squeezing action exerted by said diaphragm upon the clothes in said compartment may be selectively established.

GEORGE P. CASTNER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 597,716 Hwass Jan. 25, 1898 1,547,266 Robe July 28, 1925 1,790,494 Adams et al Jan. 27, 1931 1,926,504 Njzn Sept. 12, 1933 2,236,800 Lissauer Apr. 1, 1941 2,407,660 Graham Sept. 17, 1946 2,449,634 Baade Sept. 21, 1948 2,455,043 Calhoun Nov. 30, 1948 2,472,682 Rand June 7, 1949 

